Racket with metal i-beam frame

ABSTRACT

A racket and the like formed of a frame member made of a single continuous strip of aluminum or like material having a substantially I-shape in transverse cross section forming an outer channel and an inner channel extending the length of the strip, with certain other reinforcing metal parts secured to the frame by cement to eliminate riveting and welding.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Joseph M. Brull 451 Lenox Ave., Oak Park, 111. 60302 [21] Appl. No. 859,364 [22] Filed Sept. 19, 1969 [45] Patented Oct. 12, 1971 54 RAEKET WiTHYviETXiJY-ITEKM FRAME 11 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 273/73 C, 273/73 G, 273/73 11, 273/73 J [51] Int. Cl A631) 49/08, A63b 49/ 12 [50] Field of Search 273/73, 75

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,556,558 10/1925 Gower et al. 273/73 1,562,881 11/1925 Gower et a1. 273/73 1,937,787 12/1933 Robinson 273/73 3,501,148 3/1970 Cheris et a] 273/73 FOREIGN PATENTS 252,480 6/1926 Great Britain 273/73 287,493 5/1928 Great Britain... 273/73 1,021,278 3/1966 Great Britain... 273/73 1,099,400 1/ 1968 Great Britain... 273/73 Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-Richard J Apley Att0rney-Max R. Kraus ABSTRACT: A racket and the like formed of a frame member made of a single continuous strip of aluminum or like material having a substantially I-shape in transverse cross section forming an outer channel and an inner channel extending the length of the strip, with certain other reinforcing metal parts secured to the frame by cement to eliminate riveting and weldmg.

PATENTEUUCT 12 Ian 3. 6 1 2.526 sum 1 GF 2 Inventor JOSEPH M. BRULL ATTY.

RACKET WITH METAL I-BEAM FRAME BRIEF SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION An object of this invention is to provide a racket formed of a metal, such as aluminum, in which the entire frame which is shaped to form the head, throat and handle sections is made of a single continuous strip having a substantially I-shape in transverse cross section, forms a continuous outer channel and a continuous inner channel. This helps to reduce the number of parts in forming the racket. The flexibility can be controlled and the distribution of the weight can be controlled for better balance.

Another object of this invention is to provide a racket in which the principal parts which are secured to the frame are secured by a cement or epoxy, thus eliminating rivets and welds.

By the use of the material and the manner of formation, the openings in the head section of the frame and in the liner for the head section may be punched rather than drilled. The I- shape in transverse section forms an outer channel which receives portions of the string forming the net and confines the string wholly within the outer peripheral edges of the frame and thereby protects the string and prevents scraping of the string during play. The I-shape provides an inner channel which permits the throat member to be set flush and reinforces the throat member. The inner and outer channels pro vide excellent surfaces for the cement or epoxy and the nesting and retaining of the pertinent parts secured thereto. The cement or epoxy in addition to forming the bonding agent between the parts also strengthens the frame and attached parts.

Another object of this invention is to provide a racket which will be durable, eliminate distortion during nonplay, and which may be economically produced.

' sitter oesciuPTmN OF THE DRAWINGS Inthe drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the racket forming this invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 33 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1, showing a portion of the head and throat of the frame.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the throat.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 66 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 8 is a view taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of one of the liners which are nested within the inner channel of the head section.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The frame member is formed of a single strip of extruded aluminum material 10 which is of substantially I-shaped transverse cross section (FIGS. 2 and 3), having a wall or web 12 and opposite rounded enlarged ends or heads 14. The wall or web 12 has a central thickened portion 16 which defines spaced shoulders 18 on the opposite sides thereof. The frame is bent to form an oval-shaped head section 20 which continues with spaced sides forming the throat section 22 and continuing generally parallel spaced side members 24 which form the handle portion 25. The integral strip of extruded aluminum when shaped, as aforesaid, provides an inner continuous channel 26 and an outer continuous channel 28 extending the length of the strip 10 and extending through the head section, the throat section and the handle.

In the head section 20 there is nested within the inner channel 26 a pair of reinforcement members or liners 30, one of which is best seen in FIG. 9. One of such liners is on each side of the oval-shaped head section. Each liner extends substantially one-half of the length of the head and each liner is formed of an aluminum strip having a generally U-shaped transverse cross section and is secured inside the inner channel by a cement or epoxy 32 which fills the interior of the channel and secures the liner to the inside of the frame member. The liner is provided with a plurality of spaced openings 34 which are aligned with the spaced openings 36 in the head section 20 of the frame member. The openings 34 in the liner and the openings 36 in the frame are punched while the respective strips are generally flat.

The throat member 38 which is formed of an aluminum extrusion is shaped as best shown in plan in FIG. 5. It comprises spaced curved sides 40, a curved top 41 and a crossmember or bottom 42. The curved sides 40 of the throat member fit inside the inner channel 26 of the frame at the throat section of the frame and the throat member 38 is secured to the frame by cement or epoxy. The top portion 41 of the throat member will extend across and bridge the bottom portion of the head section of the frame and is provided with spaced openings 44.

A pair of studs 46 and 47 are spacedly secured to the sides of the frame member at the handle. The opposite end of each stud extends into the inner channel 26 of the frame and are secured to the web 12 of the frame by cement or epoxy. The studs space the side members 24 and retain them fixed relative to each other.

A reinforcement strip 48 of generally U-shaped transverse cross section is positioned in the inner channel on each side, with the bottom wall of the strips facing inwardly, and same are secured to the frame by cement or epoxy 50 (FIG. 6). The strips 48 extend between the bottom 42 of the throat member and the upper stud 46. Reinforcement strips 52, which are similar to reinforcement strips 48 are secured in the same manner to the inner channels of the spaced side members of the handle between the upper and lower studs 46 and 47. In the outer channels 28 (FIG. 7) of the side member handle portion of the frame there is nested therewithin, in each of the channels, a reinforcement strip 54 of generally U-shaped transverse cross section which is secured by means of cement or epoxy 56. The bottom wall of the strips 54 face outwardly.

In order to strengthen the frame at the handle portion and close the open space between the side members 24 and give the handle the proper shape, a pair of plastic formed handgrips are secured, one on each side, each shaped as best shown in FIG. 7, comprising a central wall 61 with two opposite diverging angular short walls 62. Extending inwardly 5 from the central wall are lips 64. Extending upwardly of the central wall are inwardly extending angular extensions 65 (FIG. 8) which extend between the side members of the frame and close the top of the handgrip. The lower ends of the handgrips flare outwardly as at 66 and have inwardly extending bottom walls 67 which close the bottom of the handgrips. The two handgrips are positioned adjacent the bottom of the handle section of the frame so that the edges of the diverging sides 62 engage the opposite rounded ends or heads 14 of the frame, as shown in FIG. 7, with the lips 64 extending inwardly between the spaced side members, best shown in FIG. 8, and with the angular top extensions meeting (FIG. 8). The two handgrips 60 will thus form with the sides of the frame and the channel strips 54 a continuous surface uninterrupted by any spacing between the sides of the frame. A leather covering 68 is wrapped around the lower portion of the handle just described to finish the handle and to provide a good gripping surface.

The openings 34 in the liners 30 are larger than the openings 36 in the head section of the frame. Certain of the aligned openings 34 and 36 and openings 44 in the throat member, as best shown in FIG. 4, receive plastic grommets 70. The strings 72 forming the net 73 are strung through the openings 34, 36 and 44 and the portions of the strings which extend into the outer channel 28 of the frame of the head section and throat section are positioned well within the outer channel and inside the peripheral surface of the outer edges of the frame so that the strings are protected against scraping and wear. The parts are joined together throughout by cement or epoxy, eliminating rivets or welding which is objectionable as the welds break and the rivets become loose because of stretching.

The racket formed by this invention is of a construction which allows for control of the rigidity or flexibility of the head and controls the weight and distribution and balance point. This is accomplished by controlling the temper, the weight and the thickness of the material. The weight can be distributed where desired. By the use of a heavier extrusion or a heavier liner the head will be heavier than the handle portion and conversely, the handle portion can be made heavier than the head by the use of a lighter gauge liner in the head and heavier strips in the handle. By the use of a cement and/or epoxy the strength achieved is equivalent to a hollow tubular section. The cement fuses the liner and the strips to the l-beam frame.

An important feature of this invention is in reducing the cost of production and also providing a racket which has all the advantages of the conventional racket, plus additional advantages not attainable by the conventional rackets, without any of the disadvantages thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. A tennis racket or the like including a frame made of a single continuous strip of metal shaped to form a head section, a throat section and a pair of spaced parallel sides with the lower portion of said parallel sides forming the handle section, said strip having a substantially l-shape in transverse cross section forming a continuous outer channel and a continuous inner channel extending the length of the strip, said l-shape comprising a web portion and oppositely extending rounded heads, said web having a centrally thickened portion defining a pair of shoulders, said head section having spaced transversely extending openings, a generally U-shaped liner seated in the inner channel of the head section and secured thereto by an adhesive material which fills the interior of the channels and engages the thickened portion of the web with the inner ends of the liner abutting said shoulders, said liner having spaced openings aligned with the openings in the frame of the head section, and a net laced in said head section through said openings.

2. A racket or the like as set forth in claim 1 in which a throat member is secured in the inner channel adjacent the open end of the head section by an adhesive material to complete the head section.

3. A racket as set forth in claim 1 in which the central thickened portion defines shoulders in the outer channel and in which a strip of substantially U-shape in transverse section is seated and retained in the outer channels of the handle section of the frame to bridge the outer channels, said U-shaped strips being filled with an adhesive which engages the thickened portion of the web with the inner ends of the U- shaped strips abutting said shoulders.

4. A racket or the like as set forth in claim 3 in which a pair of handgrips are secured to the spaced sides of the hand section to enclose the spacing thcrebetwecn.

5. A racket or the like as set forth in claim 4 in which a covering covers the pair of handgrips as well as the sides of the frame adjacent thereto.

6. A racket or the like as set forth in claim 1 in which a throat member is secured to the inner channel by an adhesive material, with said throat member having openings for the net laced therein.

7. A racket as set forth in claim 1 in which the metal strip is aluminum.

8. A tennis racket or the like comprising, a frame made of a single solid strip of metal shaped to fonn a head section, a throat section and a pair of spaced parallel sides, the lower portion of said spaced parallel sides fonning the handle section, said strip having an l-shape in cross section forming a continuous outer channel and a continuous inner channel with the web having a centrally thickened portion, a metallic reinforcing liner of U-shape secured inside the inner channel of the head section and engaging the upper and lower portions of the centrally thickened web, a throat member having a top portion and a bottom connected by spaced curved sides, said throat member positioned in the throat section of the strip with the curved sides of the throat member sitioned inside the inner channel, a stud extending between he spaced parallel sides of the handle section and secured to said sides, a reinforcing member positioned in said outer channel of said spaced parallel sides of the handle section, a U-shaped reinforcing member positioned in said inner channel on each side of the spaced parallel sides and extending between the bottom of the throat member and said stud, and a pair of handgrips closing the open space between the spaced parallel sides of the handle section.

9. A racket or the like as set forth in claim 8 in which an adhesive material secures the liner to the thickened web in the head section.

10. A racket or the like as set forth in claim 8 in which an adhesive material secures the reinforcing member to the thickened web in the handle section.

11. A racket or the like as set forth in claim 8 in which the strip of metal is aluminum. 

1. A tennis racket or the like including a frame made of a single continuous strip of metal shaped to form a head section, a throat section and a pair of spaced parallel sides with the lower portion of said parallel sides forming the handle section, said strip having a substantially I-shape in transverse cross section forming a continuous outer channel and a continuous inner channel extending the length of the strip, said I-shape comprising a web portion and oppositely extending rounded heads, said web having a centrally thickened portion defining a pair of shoulders, said head section having spaced transversely extending openings, a generally U-shaped liner seated in the inner channel of the head section and secured thereto by an adhesive material which fills the interior of the channels and engages the thickened portion of the web with the inner ends of the liner abutting said shoulders, said liner having spaced openings aligned with the openings in the frame of the head section, and a net laced in said head section through said openings.
 2. A racket or the like as set forth in claim 1 in which a throat member is secured in the inner channel adjacent the open end of the head section by an adhesive material to complete the head section.
 3. A racket as set forth in claim 1 in which the central thickened portion defines shoulders in the outer channel and in which a strip of substantially U-shape in transverse section is seated and retained in the outer channels of the handle section of the frame to bridge the outer channels, said U-shaped strips being filled with an adhesive which engages the thickened portion of the web with the inner ends of the U-shaped strips abutting said shoulders.
 4. A racket or the like as set forth in claim 3 in which a pair of handgrips are secured to the spaced sides of the hand section to enclose the spacing therebetween.
 5. A racket or the like as set forth in claim 4 in which a covering covers the pair of Handgrips as well as the sides of the frame adjacent thereto.
 6. A racket or the like as set forth in claim 1 in which a throat member is secured to the inner channel by an adhesive material, with said throat member having openings for the net laced therein.
 7. A racket as set forth in claim 1 in which the metal strip is aluminum.
 8. A tennis racket or the like comprising, a frame made of a single solid strip of metal shaped to form a head section, a throat section and a pair of spaced parallel sides, the lower portion of said spaced parallel sides forming the handle section, said strip having an I-shape in cross section forming a continuous outer channel and a continuous inner channel with the web having a centrally thickened portion, a metallic reinforcing liner of U-shape secured inside the inner channel of the head section and engaging the upper and lower portions of the centrally thickened web, a throat member having a top portion and a bottom connected by spaced curved sides, said throat member positioned in the throat section of the strip with the curved sides of the throat member positioned inside the inner channel, a stud extending between the spaced parallel sides of the handle section and secured to said sides, a reinforcing member positioned in said outer channel of said spaced parallel sides of the handle section, a U-shaped reinforcing member positioned in said inner channel on each side of the spaced parallel sides and extending between the bottom of the throat member and said stud, and a pair of handgrips closing the open space between the spaced parallel sides of the handle section.
 9. A racket or the like as set forth in claim 8 in which an adhesive material secures the liner to the thickened web in the head section.
 10. A racket or the like as set forth in claim 8 in which an adhesive material secures the reinforcing member to the thickened web in the handle section.
 11. A racket or the like as set forth in claim 8 in which the strip of metal is aluminum. 